Papers published from 1995 to 2012 by six Traditional Chinese Medicine universities in China: a bibliometric analysis based on science citation index

Objective

The quality and quantity of published research papers are important in both scientific and technology fields. Although there are several bibliometric studies based on citation analysis, very few have focused on research related to Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.

Methods

The bibliometric method used in this study included the following focuses: publication outputs for each year, paper type, language of publication, distribution of internationally collaborative countries, sources of funding, authorization number, distribution of institutes regarding collaborative publications, research fields, distribution of outputs in journals, citation data, and h-index.

Results

A total of 3809 papers published from 1995 to 2012 were extracted from the science citation index (SCI). The cumulative number of papers from all six universities is constantly increasing. The United States attained the dominant position regarding complementary and alternative medicine research. The Chinese Academy of Sciences was the greatest participator in collaborative efforts. Research field analysis showed that the research mainly focused on pharmacology pharmacy, chemistry, integrative complementary medicine, plant sciences, and biochemistry molecular biology. The Shanghai University of Chinese Medicine had the most citations.

Conclusion

In recent years, in terms of SCI papers, the six Traditional Chinese Medicine universities studied here have made great advances in scientific research.     

针灸治疗腰背痛国外SCI与国内核心期刊论文的对比研究与思考

通过对近10年国外SCI源期刊和国内核心期刊所收录的针灸治疗腰背痛的临床研究文献进行统计和分析,探讨国内外研究者对腰背痛认识的分歧。结果表明,国外研究者大多将研究对象的设置为笼统的腰背痛、急慢性腰背痛,国内研究者则以西医诊断性疾病如腰椎间盘突出症等设立为研究对象。说明国内和国外研究者对针灸治疗腰背痛存在着认识理念及研究方法上的分歧。通过国内外针灸治疗腰背痛的对比,以取长补短。     

MEDLINE-based assessment of animal studies on Chinese herbal medicine

Ethno-pharmacological relevance

The scientific proof and clinical validation of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) require a rigorous approach that includes chemical standardization, biological assays, animal studies and clinical trials.

Aim of the study

To assess the experimental design of animal studies on the activity of CHM by selection and scrutinizing of a series of papers in some major disease areas.

Materials and methods

We have analyzed the English publications reported in MEDLINE (ISI web of knowledge).

Results

Our data showed that (i) research of CHM during the last 10 years had been highly intensified and become more accessible worldwide through increased publications in English, although still most authors had Chinese names; (ii) English journals publishing animal research of CHM were comparable to those publishing animal studies of non-Chinese phytotherapy in terms of impact factor; and (iii) published data on authentication and quality control of CHM, as well as research design of animal studies were far from sufficient to meet the criteria needed to support their reproducibility and reliability.

Conclusions and perspectives

The recent decade witnessed an increase in CHM research activities and CHM English publications. Based on common problems identified in publications on CHM animal studies, we have proposed a checklist that could help in preliminary selection of publications lacking the most common problems and thus would be useful for a quick search of reproducible CHM regimens that are likely to be effective in a given context. The second application of this checklist is to help avoid the most common problems when designing experiments.     

Akupunktur und Schmerz – eine Historie in 3 Teilen: Teil 2: Der Weg der Akupunktur in die moderne Schmerztherapie

Background

In modern pain therapy, a more integral view on the patient has become prevalent. Interdisciplinary approaches for diagnosis and treatment have become established, especially regarding patients suffering from chronic pain. Besides the application of conventional pain medicine, alternative therapy options are being implemented. Here, especially acupuncture has become important since it emphasizes the unity of body, mind, and soul.

Aim

The historical evolution of the integration of acupuncture into pain therapy as well as the scientific knowledge regarding this therapeutic approach will be explained.

Methods

Extant literature about the development of pain therapy, acupuncture techniques, as well as results of basic research was interpreted in the context of daily clinical practice.

Results

Considering the changes that pain therapy experienced over the last century, the integration of acupuncture into increasingly important interdisciplinary treatment approaches appears almost as a logical consequence. The bio-psycho-social model representing the basis of modern pain therapy emphasizes the interrelation of pain syndromes and purely physical factors, the patient's life situation, and social background, in the same way as done in acupuncture therapy. In this context, the development of western acupuncture styles besides the traditional Chinese techniques is of special interest.

Discussion

The summary of the historical and scientific background of acupuncture and pain medicine reveals that interdisciplinary therapy and, especially the integral point of view represent relatively new approaches. Thus, further progress in the treatment of chronic pain patients can be expected.     

Akupunktur in der Dermatologie – Stand der wissenschaftlichen Forschung

Background and Aims

The impact of application of acupunture has grown within the last years. This review lists the current state of clinical research regarding the evidence of acupuncture in the treatment of selected dermatological diseases and symptoms.

Methods

The literature review was based on thorough screening of the databases of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until July 2008.

Results

Due to the limited number of studies so far no recommendation can be given regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture as a means to treat dermatological diseases.

Conclusions

However, using acupuncture to treat such symptoms as nausea, vomiting, postoperative pain and itch has shown beneficial effects. Further studies should be carried out addressing the many open questions.     

Anwendungsbeobachtung der seriellen Akupunkturbehandlung von Lumbago und Kopfschmerz in der Allgemeinpraxis

Background

The German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) have brought good results regarding the acupuncture treatment of lumbago and headache. However, for reasons of scientific practicability, patients included in these trials were restricted by certain criteria (among others, excluding patients after spinal surgery, past experiences with acupuncture, patients with ischialgia). Also, microsystems and other acupuncture-related techniques, such as moxibustion or cupping, were not included.

Objective

The objective of this treatment observation was the assessment of early as well as late results of acupuncture treatment series for lumbago and headache performed on the mixed patient collective of a general practitioner's practice.

Methods

The observation included all patients who received acupuncture for chronic back pain or headache. The treatment observation consists of data collected from 192 treatment series (10 acupuncture sessions each) for lumbago, and 86 treatment series (10 acupuncture sessions each) for headache. There were no restrictions regarding microsystems or acupuncture-related techniques. Acupuncture was administered according to the criteria of Traditional Chinese Medicine; there were no restrictions regarding the selection of the acupuncture points.

Results

The benefit of the treatment in the lumbago group was rated none or poor in 18 cases (9.4 %), moderate in 35 (18.2 %), and very good in 139 (72.4 %) cases. In the headache-group the benefit was rated none or poor in 2 cases (2.3 %), moderate in 28 (32.6 %), and very good in 56 (65.1 %) patients.

Conclusion

The results were encouraging: not only in the restricted setting of a large scientific study, but also within the mixed patient collective of a general practitioner's practice, acupuncture can lead to good results in the therapy of chronic back pain and headache.     

Electroacupuncture for Sciatica: A Literature Trawl using the Clinical Studies Database at www.electroacupunctureknowledge.com

Background

This article introduces the electroacupuncture (EA) clinical studies database at www.electroacupunctureknowledge.com and demonstrates how it can be used in conjunction with other available literature to develop a treatment protocol for a common condition such as sciatica.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was developed and raw material (studies) gathered from personal collections, bibliographic databases, and hand-searching runs of periodicals held in specialist libraries. Data was extracted from these according to a defined protocol. The resulting database concentrates on treatment with EA and other nontraditional forms of acupuncture. Studies located on back pain and sciatica were analysed for the acupoints and treatment parameters used (other data types recorded included study type, numbers and subgroups of subjects, endpoint measures used, and outcome).

Results

So far, data have been entered from well over 8000 studies originally published in Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian, English and other Western and Eastern European languages, by 23 different individuals, including acupuncture practitioners and students, researchers and translators. Of these studies, 206 were on sciatica (or low back pain with sciatica), 34 being RCTs and 43 CTs. When using EA, the traditional pattern of using local and distal points along BL and GB channels has been retained, with EA applied locally or distally, or both. Most used points were BL-23 shenshu, huatuojiaji and ashi points locally, with distal points on the BL, GB (or ST) channels. Most used parameters for EA were LF or DD stimulation ‘to tolerance’ for around 25 minutes, and strong but comfortable HF or intermittent stimulation for 30 minutes or more for TEAS/TENS.

Conclusions

The database at www.electroacupunctureknowledge.com can provide information that is useful for developing baseline clinical or experimental protocols, as in the current example of sciatica. The challenge now is to obtain funding so that the database can be refined and updated, with better definition of the resulting protocols.     

Acupuncture therapy on apoplectic aphasia rehabilitation

Objective

Acupuncture has often been used for aphasia rehabilitation in China. The purpose of this paper was to: 1) provide a historic overview of acupuncture for aphasia due to stroke; 2) summarize the commonly used acupuncture approaches; and 3) objectively comment on the effectiveness of acupuncture for the rehabilitation of this type of disorder.

Methods

The Elsevier database and a Chinese database (CNKI) were searched through December, 2010 with the key words “aphasia, acupuncture” in English and Chinese, respectively. Case reports, uncontrolled clinical observations and controlled clinical trials were all included if acupuncture was the sole treatment or the main component of complex intervention for the rehabilitation of aphasia caused by cerebrovascular disease.

Results

More than 100 relevant articles were found. After analyzing these articles, we found that acupuncture for apoplectic aphasia most often included tongue, scalp, body and combination acupuncture. Tongue bleeding, deep insertion and strong stimulation were adopted by many practitioners. The ten most frequently used acupoints (or areas) were Lianquan (RN 23), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), Tongli (HT 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Neiguan (PC 6), Baihui (DU 20), No. 1, 2 and 3 language sections, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yamen (DU 15).

Conclusion

Controlled clinical studies and a systematic literature review demonstrate that acupuncture has therapeutic effects on aphasia after stroke.     

A review of Omics research in acupuncture: the relevance and future prospects for understanding the nature of meridians and acupoints

Relevance

Acupuncture is an intrinsic part of traditional Chinese medicine. The current understanding of the acupuncture meridian system, acupoints and the potential utilizing Omics technologies are summarized in this review.

Material and methods

A systematic search for acupuncture involving Omics technologies was carried out using multiple online literature databases. The records retrieved were from the full collections of each database dated to September 2011. Data produced from functional genomic technologies were extracted from the collected acupuncture/moxibustion studies and subjected to evaluation. Analyses and comments were summarized on the advances in experimental research in acupuncture/moxibustion-related studies, and the future for strategies and approaches in the era of functional genomics highlighted.

Results

An overview of articles indicated that several diseases or symptoms with evidence of effectiveness had been piloted for using functional genomic technologies, such as Parkinson's disease, allergic disorders, pain, and spinal cord injury, most of which are chronic “difficult diseases”. High-throughput genomic and proteomic profiling of gene expression in tissues has been able to identify potential candidates for the effects of acupuncture and provide valuable information toward understanding the possible mechanisms of the therapy. However, without further holistic and sophisticated analyses in the context of metabolomics and systems biology, the current attempts and the foreseeable developments appear to be insufficient to produce firm conclusions. Noticeably, the recent rapid advances in functional molecular imaging targeting specific metabolites have shown great promise and if combined with other post-genomic technologies, could be extremely helpful for the acupuncture studies in human subjects.

Conclusion

This review suggest that disease-oriented studies using the approach of multi-indexed high-throughput technologies and systems biology analyses will be a preferred strategy for future acupuncture/moxibustion research.     

Trigger Points and Classical Acupuncture Points: Part 3: Relationships of Myofascial Referred Pain Patterns to Acupuncture Meridians

Background

In the first part of this study, myofascial trigger point regions were demonstrated to have strong (93.3%) anatomic correspondences with classical acupuncture points. The second portion of this study examined the clinical correspondences of trigger point regions and classical acupuncture points in the treatment of both pain and somatovisceral disorders, and found they had ∼ 97% correlation for treating pain conditions and over 93% correlation in treating somatovisceral conditions.

Objective

To examine the relationships of myofascial trigger point regions' referred-pain patterns to the meridian distributions of their anatomically corresponding classical acupuncture points.

Methods

The 238 anatomically corresponding trigger point region – classical acupuncture point pairs in part one of this study were analyzed to compare the distributions of their myofascial referred-pain patterns and acupuncture meridians in order to determine if their distributions correlated.

Results

Seventeen of the 238 anatomically corresponding trigger point regions had no described myofascial referred-pain. In the remaining 221 trigger point region-classical acupuncture point pairs, 180 (81.5%) demonstrated complete or near-complete correlation, and another 9.5% of point pairs partially showed correlations regarding the distributions of their myofascial referred-pain patterns and associated acupuncture meridians. Only 9% of point pairs showed little or no consistency of their referred-pain patterns and acupuncture meridians.

Conclusions

The strong (up to 91%) consistency of the distributions of trigger point regions' referred pain patterns to acupuncture meridians provides a fourth line of evidence that trigger points most likely represent the same physiological phenomenon as acupuncture points in the treatment of pain disorders.     

Welche Hinweise geben die Studien der Modellvorhaben auf eine qualitativ gute Akupunktur?: Teilergebnisse eines komplexen Evaluationsprogamms PEP-AC

Background

The scientific acupuncture studies as part of the model project of German statutory insurance bodies aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture therapy in chronic headache, chronic back pain, and osteoarthrosis both under controlled and every-day conditions. The results serve as criteria for high-quality acupuncture. Linking an observational study with the data gathered from a survey conducted among acupuncturists, certain hints concerning features of patients, therapy and therapists could be gathered.

Aim

Reviewing the correlations already published by means of a homogenous indication group.

Methods

Combining the patient data from a prospective observational study and the data from a survey conducted among the participating acupuncturists. The patient data recorded included pain intensity, functionality in every-day situations, quality of life, and total of days with pain experienced before starting and 6 months after conclusion of therapy. The post-interventional data included overall satisfaction with the result and the incidence of side-effects. The data collected among the therapists included field of specialization, degree of qualification in acupuncture, contingent of acupuncture patients treated, as well as the application of additional naturopathic therapies.

Results

1'727 patients with chronic back pain (average age 58 years, 79% female), having received treatment from 1'061 acupuncturists, were included in the present study. Regarding the treatment results, two extreme groups (445 non-responder and 261 best-responder) could be compared. Between acupuncturists with shorter (A-diploma) or longer (B-diploma) training, there was no detectable difference in the treatment success. Patients who received acupuncture from orthopaedic surgeons showed up less frequently in the group of particularly successfully treated patients. Patients treated by doctors with a high quota of acupuncture patients as well as by doctors offering additional naturopathic treatments more frequently displayed a good outcome. There is evidence indicating a less frequent occurrence of side effects in patients treated by therapists with longer training and/or more experience. Both male and female patients were more satisfied with the treatment if acupuncture was administered by a female doctor. Among male orthopaedic surgeons, the average time of contact with the patients during acupuncture treatment was remarkably short.

Conclusion

In spite of some methodological drawbacks, certain therapists' features could be identified as quality indicators which could be used in the future improvement of acupuncture provisioning.     

„Was ist möglich mit Akupunktur und Related Techniques sowie Diätetik und chinesischer Arzneitherapie bei Kindern?”: Ergebnisse einer ExpertInnenbefragung

Objective

To reach a consensus in the use of acupuncture and related techniques as well as dietetics and Chinese herbal therapy for pediatric illnesses.

Methods

40 specialists in Chinese Medicine in paediatrics were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the above-mentioned techniques for a given number of indications. Evaluation was classified in a threefold way: useful, less useful or not useful. Further questions referred to specific diagnostic and therapeutic modes as well as to studies in this field.

Results

Seven paediatricians returned the questionnaire. The list of indications was extended to 22, mainly for indications rated as „less useful.” The answers were fairly consistent for paediatric disturbances such as headache, abdominal pain and allergic diseases, and less consistent for only seven out of 22 indications. Most evaluations were based on personal experience, and less on the limited amount of controlled studies in the paediatric field.

Discussion

Differences in evaluation may be due to the different therapeutic focus in the applied techniques. Therapeutic procedures varied the most, when therapy was based on the complementary use of Chinese herbal therapy and Western medicine. A comparison between the techniques applied is hardly possible due to the the different stages of chronicity of the diseases in different clinics.

Conclusions

This study produced a rather homogenous consensus with regard to the effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques as well as dietetics and traditional Chinese herbal therapy in paediatrics based on expert evaluation (EBM-level IV). Expert opinion is supported by studies (in part EBM-level I and II).     

“针灸只是安慰剂”之质疑——以国内外针灸文献对比研究为讨论基础

[目的]探讨国外SCI源期刊对针灸治疗腰背痛的研究方向,并与国内针灸核心期刊进行对比。通过对比,对“针灸只是安慰剂”之说进行深入探讨与思考。[方法]通过搜集近10年国外SCI源期刊和国内核心期刊所收录的针灸治疗腰背痛的临床研究文献进行统计和分析,探讨国内外研究者对针灸治疗腰背痛的研究方向之差异,从而进一步对“针灸只是安慰剂”之说进行剖析。[结果]国外研究对针灸治疗腰背痛的研究目标设立较为广泛,国内研究则是集中于探索针灸治疗腰背痛的疗效观察与评估。但国外研究中涉及了国内研究中所不见的假针灸对照试验研究。可是,基于假针灸对照组的设立存有争议并且未达到共识,“针灸只是安慰剂”之说仍有争议。[结论]国内和国外研究者对针灸治疗腰背痛存在着研究方向上的分歧。“针灸只是安慰剂”之说仍存有争议。     

Exploring practice characteristics and research priorities of practitioners of traditional acupuncture in China and the EU-A survey

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Acupuncture practice is based on the theoretical, historical and philosophical principles, which are part of Chinese medicine. Traditional acupuncture practitioners assess their patients’ conditions using Chinese medicine diagnostic techniques, which determine clinical care and treatment. Little is known about differences in the perceptions of research evidence among practitioners in the European Union (EU) and China, given the diversity of acupuncture practice.

Material and methods

This study explored differences between practitioners of traditional acupuncture regarding perceived need for research evidence and prioritisation for future clinical trials, based on their practice within the EU and China.A convenience sample of acupuncturists in the EU (contacted by their professional organisation) and China (from geographically dispersed hospitals) were invited to participate in a survey, which was conducted during 2010/2011. Data collected included: practitioners’ demographic details, country of training, practice setting, acupuncture techniques, perceived adverse event reporting, diagnostic methods, conditions commonly treated, conditions perceived as needing more evidence and practitioner perceptions of conditions which could demonstrate benefit if investigated in clinical trials.

Results

From 1126 survey responses, 1020 (559 EU, 461 China) could be included in the analysis for direct comparison. A response rate for the EU could not be calculated but for China was 98%. Pain was the most frequently reported commonly treated condition by EU acupuncturists and neurological conditions (mainly stroke) for Chinese practitioners. The top reported priorities for research were obstetrics/gynaecological conditions in the EU and neurological problems in China.

Conclusion

The survey identified differences in practice and training between acupuncturists in China and the EU and between EU member states. These differences may inform prioritisation of health conditions for future trials. Innovative research methods are recommended to incorporate the complexity and plurality of acupuncture practice and theory. Creation of collaborative networks is crucial in overcoming these differences to facilitate international, multi-centre clinical trials.     

Unerwünschte Wirkungen und Komplikationen bei Akupunkturbehandlung: Ergebnisse der großen Beobachtungsstudie im Rahmen des Modellvorhabens der Ersatzkassen

Background and objective

Within a large research and reimbursement program by German social health insurance the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain was investigated. We provide here the results regarding safety aspects from a large observational study.

Methods

Safety aspects were investigated in three ways: Physicians were asked to make a global assessment of safety and to report adverse effects for all 503,397 treatment cycles documented between July 2001 and June 2003. Serious adverse effects had to be reported directly to the research center and were collected up to December 2004. In addition, a sample of 6,140 patients was asked about the side effects they had experienced.

Results

Physicians documented at least one adverse effect in 7.8% of all patients, the most frequent being needling pain in 3.9%. Serious adverse events were reported in 17 cases, the most frequent event being pneumothorax (5 cases). 9.3% of patients reported side effects, a quarter of these were considered as truly bothersome. The most frequent side effects reported by patients were pain, fatigue and circulatory disturbances.

Conclusions

Serious adverse effects of acupuncture are very rare; however, minor side effects occur frequently. Overall, acupuncture provided by trained physicians is a comparably safe therapy.     

Veränderungen der Herzratenvariabilität (HRV) während Low Level Lasernadelakupunktur: Placebokontrollierte Studie an 19 herzgesunden Probanden

Background

Experimental and clinical studies postulate a neurobiological mechanism of acupuncture by modulating central pain systems, neurohormones and -transmitters. It seems to be quite likely that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important mediating role in this neuromodulation.

Aim

In measuring heart rate variability (HRV), as a non-invasive approach to the ANS-function, the object of this study was to monitor probable acupuncture-induced changes of autonomic balance. The innovative technology of laser-needle acupuncture offers for the first time a stimulation method which fulfils the demands on a placebo-controlled acupuncture trial not requiring controversial sham acupuncture.

Method

19 healthy voluntary subjects underwent 3 treatments in randomized sequence, consisting of placebo-, 1-point- (PC 6) and simultaneous 3-point- (PC 6, LR 3, SI 3) laser-needle-stimulation over 20 minutes. Before, during and after placebo-/verum laser-needle acupuncture, HRV-data for normalized HF(high frequency)- and LF(low frequency)-Power (nHF, nLF) and their quotient nLF/nHF obtained by power spectrum analysis (FFT), were measured and analyzed statistically at 5 different time points (ANOVA repeated measures, p < 0,05).

Results

During both verum applications, the 1-point- (PC 6) as well as the simultaneous 3-point- (PC 6, LR 3, SI 3) laser-needle stimulation, significant changes of the ANS-activity were found in comparison to the placebo application. The most significant modification of HRV was an increase of nHF (p < 0,05 (PC 6), p < 0,0001 (PC 6, LR 3, SI 3)) as an expression of growing vagal activity during acupuncture.

Conclusion

Laser-needle acupuncture causes in 1-point-stimulation (PC 6) as well as in simultaneous 3-point-stimulation (PC 6, LR 3, SI 3) significant changes in HRV in comparison to placebo application. HRV-monitoring seems to be a suitable approach in exploration of acupuncture-induced changes of ANS and could possibly be established in combination with laser needle acupuncture as a standard for further scientific and clinical acupuncture investigations which are greatly needed.     

Welche Wertigkeit besitzt die TCM in der Therapie von malignen Erkrankungen? Eine Expertenbefragung

Background

Acupuncture as a regulative therapy has proved itself in functional disorders. It is incapable, however, of repairing structurally damaged tissue. This dogma has remained unchallenged for decades, making benign as malign tumors a contraindication for acupuncture treatment. As in German-speaking countries, acupuncture has been taught for more than 50 years, it may be time to question and re-evaluate certain dogmas on the basis of modern scientific findings.

Aim

To find a consensus regarding the treatment of malignant tumors by means of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Method

All instructors of four German-speaking acupuncture societies as well as all DGfAN were provided with a questionnaire containing 11 questions regarding procedures and experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of carcinoma.

Results

Questionnaires were sent to 56 DGfAN instructors as well as all of the 1'200 members. Of these, 24 were returned. For nearly all participants, malignant tumors do not constitute a contraindication for acupuncture anymore. Many therapists successfully treat the side-effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy by means of Traditional Chinese Medicine.No consensus could be found regarding the ipsilateral use of acupuncture in lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. There should be due caution as to the possible Interactions between chemotherapy and certain Chinese drugs.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest a revision of the current policy of discouraging acupuncture in patients receiving chemo- and/or radiotherapy/anti-hormone therapy. Further studies are recommended to support these findings. Also, further studies are needed to investigate the possibility of augmenting conventional malignoma therapy by stimulation of the immune system, and of preventing metastasis.     

Patient mit Fersensporn

Background

Pain in the heel due to a calcaneal spur, verified in X-ray, often leads to a reduction of quality of life. A calcaneal spur is not as common as other problems an orthopaedic surgeon might encounter in practice, such as vertebral pain or pain in joints. However, pain associated with a calcaneal spur often is resistant to treatment and for this reason poses a challenge to the specialists. Seldom acupuncture is the first option although meanwhile it has become a well-accepted treatment for pain of the locomotor system.

Objectives

to determine whether acupuncture could be an option in the treatment of pain associated with a calcaneal spur.

Method

A male patient with a calcaneal spur was treated with semi-permanent needles in the ear, and low-level laser therapy. Previously, he had received all appropriate therapies western medicine currently has to offer in the treatment of this diagnosis.

Results

Already after the first treatment, a significant reduction of pain was reported. After four sessions, the patient was able to go running again. No further treatment has been necessary ever since.

Conclusion

Trials to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with calcaneal spurs should follow to vindicate the regular application of acupuncture in this diagnosis. Case reports show that pain due to a calcaneal spur can be influenced by ear acupuncture and laser therapy.     

Balance Acupuncture: An Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Treating Radicular Pain in a Lumbar Disc Herniation Rat Model

Background

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common clinical disease accounting for lumbocrural pain in the majority of the patients. The incidence of LDH has risen quickly in the past years. The theory of balance acupuncture is a new method firstly established by Dr. Wang Wenyuan and further developed according to a large amount of clinical studies which have come to emphasize its immediate therapeutic effects. Swiftness of effect as well as an easy point selection and handling are among the advantages of this technique.

Objectives

By applying balance acupuncture in a clinical setting, we have obtained data reporting a significant effect on LDH. However, the mechanisms are still unknown. The clinical symptoms of radicular pain are mainly induced by pathological changes due to mechanical compression and the chemical inflammation process. With this theoretical background, we used a rat lumbar disc herniation model with radiculopathy which resembled the pathological situation of radicular pain in LDH of humans. We observed the beneficial effect of balance acupuncture on LDH with radiculopathy and tried to decipher its working mechanism for clinical treatments.

Methods

Male SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats were randomly and evenly assigned to a blank group, a sham-operation group, a model group and a treatment group, respectively. In the model group, radiculopathy of LDH was simulated by cerclaging the L5 nerve root, followed by a detection of the change of claw-latency after thermally stimulated withdrawal. Moreover, the histological changes were judged by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, whereby the physiological marker IL-1β was detected, showing stimulation by the balance acupoints “lumbago” and “hip pain”.

Results

(1) Radiculopathy caused by LDH-nerve compression can cause hyperalgesia of the lower limbs, reduction of the pain tolerance threshold, edema of the nerve root tissue, disappearance of the axon, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. (2) Radiculopathy caused by LDH can cause an increase of IL-1β. There was a positive correlation between IL-1β and the inflammatory response of the nerve root as well as the amount of pain. (3) Balance acupuncture can diminish fiber edema of the nerve root and demyelination, reduce the responses of the inflammation and stress, and promote healing of the injured nerve root.

Conclusion

Balance acupuncture can regulate the responses to the hyperalgesia in radiculopathy caused by LDH. It can influence the expression level of some cytokines, and eventually repair the disordered functions of the nerve root to some extent, all of which might be regulated through neuroendocrinal–immune system related cascades and pathways. Therefore, balance acupuncture is a novel method for treatment of disease like LDH with radicular pain, which is worthy to be tested extensively in clinical surroundings.